Variable replacement apparatus

Abstract

A variable replacement apparatus which replaces variable names in a text with corresponding variable values, each variable name formed by at least one character and each character in the variable name having a corresponding format. The apparatus includes a variable name extracting unit for extracting a variable name from the text. A variable value acquisition unit obtains a variable value corresponding to the variable name extracted by the variable name extracting unit. A variable name analyzing unit analyzes the corresponding format of each character forming the variable name and a variable value converting unit converts the variable value obtained by the variable value acquisition unit so that the variable value has a format which is determined in accordance with the corresponding format of each character forming the variable name. A variable replacing unit replaces the variable name in the text by the converted variable value.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A variable replacement apparatus which replaces variable names in a text with corresponding variable values, each variable name formed by at least one character and each character in the variable name having a corresponding format, the apparatus comprising: variable name extracting means for extracting a variable name from the text;   variable value acquisition means for obtaining a variable value corresponding to the variable name extracted by said variable name extracting means;   variable name analyzing means for analyzing the corresponding format of each character forming the variable name;   variable value converting means for converting the variable value obtained by said variable value acquisition means so that the variable value has a format which is determined in accordance with the corresponding format of each character forming the variable name; and   variable replacing means for replacing the variable name in the text by the converted variable value.   
     
     
       2. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises output means for outputting the converted variable value. 
     
     
       3. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said output means outputs the converted variable value to a device selected from the group comprising a terminal equipment, an output unit and a source program which requests the conversion of the text, said output unit including a display and a printer. 
     
     
       4. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the text is selected from the group comprising a display field define deck, a document and a source program. 
     
     
       5. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said variable name analyzing means analyzes the corresponding formats of respective characters forming the variable name, the corresponding formats including capital letters and small letters. 
     
     
       6. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said variable name analyzing means analyzes the corresponding formats of respective characters forming the variable name, the corresponding formats including different character codes. 
     
     
       7. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said variable name analyzing means analyzes the corresponding formats of respective characters forming the variable name, the corresponding formats including different style of penmanship, type or font. 
     
     
       8. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said variable name analyzing means analyzes the corresponding formats of respective characters forming the variable name, the corresponding formats including different colors. 
     
     
       9. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable name is formed by at least two characters and the variable value is formed by at least two datum, said variable value converting means converts a first datum of the variable value in accordance with the corresponding format of a first character of the variable name and converts second and any subsequent datum of the variable value in accordance with the corresponding format of a second character of the variable name. 
     
     
       10. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable name is formed by at least n characters and the variable value is formed by at least n datum, said variable value converting means converts an nth datum of the variable value in accordance with the corresponding format of an nth character of the variable name, where n is an arbitrary integer. 
     
     
       11. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable value is formed by at least m datum and the variable name is formed by at least n characters, said variable value converting means converts an mth datum of the variable value in accordance with the corresponding format of an nth character of the variable name, where m and n are mutually different arbitrary integers. 
     
     
       12. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the same format corresponds to each character in the variable name and said variable value converting means converts the entire variable value in accordance with the corresponding same format of the characters in the variable name. 
     
     
       13. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said variable value converting means inserts dummy characters into the variable name if the number of characters forming the variable name is less than the number of datum forming the variable value. 
     
     
       14. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said variable value converting means repeats a character sequence of the variable name if the number of characters forming the variable name is less than the number of datum forming the variable value. 
     
     
       15. The variable replacement apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable value includes at least m datum and the same format corresponds to each character forming the variable name, said variable value converting means converts an mth datum of the variable value depending on the same format corresponding to the characters in the variable name, where m is an integer.